Despite strong performances, this 'Southside Story’ about a bayside suburb whose mayor has banned musical theatre productions in order to address the scourge of roaming music-theatre gangs, fails to sustain its charm over a one-hour running time.
After a dramatic opening, which successfully transforms the intimate confines of the Butterfly Club into a war zone, we’re quickly introduced to Gerard and Adrian, two gay-acting straight boys, one of whom is still carrying a torch for his former girlfriend, the musical-hating mayor, Ms Craig. From this point the narrative - expanded from an original, award-winning 10 minute production - quickly becomes laboured, and a series of jokes involving Dermot Brereton, tracksuits and poisoned cask wine fail to slow its descent into incoherence.
Despite some clever pastiches of existing songs (such as the rapped break-up song ‘Franga Woman’, and a reworked version of
Two and a half stars
I Heart Frankston: The Musical
The Butterfly Club until April 18
Thu-Sat 7pm, Sun 6pm
$20 - $25
This review originally appeared in The Age on Saturday April 10, where half a star was ommitted from the rating due to a sub-editing error.
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